Miami-Dade Cop, Cousin Accused Of Robbing Gambler

MIAMI - CBS4 News has learned that a Miami-Dade police officer has been charged with reportedly using his gun and badge to steal more than $100 thousand in cash from an alleged gambler.

According to an internal investigation by Miami-Dade police it began on April 19th when Victor Duarte placed several bets with Leonardo Lastre, 31, a suspected bookie who operated an illegal gambling operation through the website "GameDayVIP.com". A week later Duarte received a call from Lastre the he come to Lastre's business, Live Colors Media, to collect his winnings of $131 thousand. Duarte said he'd be there the next day to collect.

Investigators say phone records show Lastre called Fausto Villar, 28, and his cousin Miami-Dade Burglary Detective John Villar several times the night before the robbery.

On Wednesday, April 28, at around 12:44 p.m., phone records show John Villar, 28, called his cousin Fausto. At this same time, security camera video captured John Villar driving into Caribe Lakes Housing Community, where Fausto Villar lives, driving his unmarked police car; a 2005 gold Ford Taurus.

Five minutes later, security cameras captured the police vehicle leaving the complex with a passenger.

Just before 1:30 p.m. Lastre called Duarte who said he was on his way to collect his winnings. Lastre reportedly told Duarte that he wasn't quite ready and they should meet at the La Carreta Restaurant, located at 8650 SW 40 Street, Miami, Florida.

While Duarte sat in the restaurant waiting for Lastre, phone records show Lastre called John Villar's cell phone. Lastre then called Duarte and asked if he could order food for him and then bring it to his business.

Duarte did so and then drove to Live Colors Media where he met with Lastre in his office. Lastre reportedly ate his food and then retrieved a Christmas gift bag with money in it on his desk. Lastre and Duarte then counted the money, which totaled one hundred and thirty thousand dollars ($130,000). When Duarte told Lastre he was short, Lastre allegedly got another one thousand dollars and placed it in the bag.

Duarte then left. According to phone records, Lastre then called Fausto Villar allegedly to tell him which way Duarte was heading and the he was driving a white Lincoln Aviator.

Duarte began traveling east bound on SW 40 Street to the Palmetto Expressway (SRoad 826) which he got on.

Duarte was heading north on SR826 when Villar, driving his unmarked police car, reportedly pulled behind him, activated police lights and motioned for him to pull over to the side of the road as they approached the State Road 836 overpass. Duarte complied and pulled over north of State Road 836.

Duarte would later tell police that John Villar, wearing a black shirt and a sweater, MDPD badge hanging from his neck, and a holstered firearm on his hip approached him on the drivers side of his SUV. He said Fausto Villar, wearing a bullet proof vest with the words police across the front in white letters, a baseball cap, sunglasses and Taser approached him from the passenger side.

Duarte said when he reached the driver's side window John Villars asked for his driver's license and then demanded that Duarte hand over his cell telephone. Duarte handed over his iPhone. Villar then allegedly asked if he had any contraband in the vehicle, pointing at the Christmas bag.

When Duarte told Villar that there was money in the bag, Fausto allegedly opened the rear passenger door and grabbed it. When Duarte asked John Villar why they were taking the money out of his vehicle,

Villar allegedly told him that the money was evidence and that a narcotics detector canine was en route. He then reportedly ordered Duarte to put his car keys on the roof the vehicle and wait for the K9 unit. Villars then went back to his unmarked police car.

When Duarte got out of his vehicle and approached Villar's car, Fausto Villar reportedly jumped out, told him to go back to the Aviator or he would use the Taser on him.

Duarte would later tell investigators at that point he became nervous and began to scream for help from passing drivers.

The Villars then drove off. Duarte said he hopped back into his SUV and began chasing the unmarked police vehicle. A short time later he spotted a Florida Highway Patrol trooper on the side of the road, pulled up next to him and told him what happened. As Duarte drove off in pursuit of the Villars, Trooper Matthew Mihm followed. At the NW 25 Street exit Mihm pulled the Ford over, noting that car's license plate had been covered with a piece of paper.

Mihm said as soon as he stopped his car, John Villar got out and identified himself as a police officer. At about the same time, Fausto reportedly bolted out of the passenger's side of the car and ran on foot down the exit ramp through the construction area, northbound towards NW 25 Street, carrying the Christmas bag.

John Villar allegedly told Mihm that he had stopped Duarte for reckless driving and had allowed the Victim to leave with a warning. Mihm would later say that he saw Villar hand Duarte's license back to him. When asked about the covered license plate, Villar reportedly said he had covered his tag the night before when he was working a detail and had forgotten about it. Mihm said he also stated that he was alone in the car.

Villar then contacted his immediate supervisor, Sergeant Chris Manzelli, and requested that he come out to the scene because there was an allegation of missing money. Manzelli arrived a short time later and spoke with both Mihm and Duarte.

When questioned by Manzelli, Villar reportedly said he was by himself and he had stopped Duarte for reckless driving. As for the covered license, Villar said it was covered because he had gone by a girlfriends house and he did not want her to identify him.

Just after 4 p.m. security camera video shows Fausto Villar arrive back at Caribe Lakes housing community as a passenger in a silver 2 door Nissan Altima which is registered to Michael Mattia. Phone records would later show that Fausto Villar had called Mattia just before 3 p.m. and the conversation lasted about 23 minutes.

During the traffic stop, Duarte got in contact with Carlos Devarona, a private investigator he knew. Duarte would later tell police he at one time had put Devarona in contact with Lastre because the alleged bookie had said he needed the services of a private investigator. Devarona also said that although he never personally met Lastre, one of his employees had dropped off a tracking device at Lastre's business.

While at the scene on NW 25th Street, Devarona overheard Leonardo Lastre state that he thought he knew "the cop", referring to John Villar. When Devarona started questioning him about that, Lastre reportedly back tracked stating, "Well, he looks familiar."

When police were done questioning Duarte, Lastre asked if he would drop him off at his business. During the ride, Lastre reportedly told Duarte that he believed his cousin was responsible for the robbery.

Duarte asked Lastre to call Devarona so the three could meet immediately.

During their meeting Lastre allegedly told Devarona that John Villar had been partying at his residence the night before the robbery.

On April 29, police got a search warrant for Villar's unmarked vehicle.

The search revealed the yellow folder used by Villar to cover the vehicle's license plate and a red sweater allegedly used by Villar during the robbery. Also found was a black police bullet proof vest which fits the description of the vest used by the second person who was in the Ford when Duarte was stopped.

On May 4 police searched Villar's unmarked car again and found a department issued Taser which fit the description of the Taser described by Duarte as being used by the second subject during the robbery.

Based on the phone records, witness statements and evidence, John Villar, Fausto Villar and Leonardo Lastre were arrested and face a number of charges including Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary and Conspiracy to commit Armed Robbery. Fausto Villar will face additional charges including Impersonating a police officer during the commission of a Felony and Possessing a bulletproof vest while Committing an Offense.

CBS4 Miami